Corey Pavin took a gamble on the future in Rickie Fowler and named banker Tiger Woods among his wild cards on Wall Street yesterday.

The Majors-obsessed world No.1 has always taken the biennial clash with Europe as seriously as his marriage vows.

But after the meltdown of his public image and his recent return to form, Woods could have bet his own mortgage on his selection by the US skipper yesterday.

Pavin also added 2009 Open winner Stewart Cink and 2007 Masters winner Zach Johnson to a team already including four rookies.

But at the announcement at the New York Stock Exchange yesterday, he then went for broke by backing the talented but untested Fowler for boisterous Celtic Manor.

The colourful former world amateur No.1, who always wears orange in the final round, only turned pro last year but already has three runners-up places on the US Tour.

"I think he can handle it, and that's why I picked him," Pavin said. Fowler, who has a 7-1 record in Walker Cups, will rival his fellow 21-year-old Rory McIlroy for outrageous talent and terrible hair.

"I can bring I guess a little bit of colour to the team, I can bring some youth to the team and hopefully get the guys pumped up a little bit," he said. "I could bring some energy to the team."

Woods, who missed the US win in Valhalla through injury, has never enjoyed playing for his country for free.

In 25 matches, he has only won 10 times for a percentage of 0.44 - and if he were to lose four out of five points at Celtic Manor, he would then claim the worst US Ryder Cup record of all time.

But yesterday he shamelessly claimed he has "always loved playing the Ryder Cup".

Woods, who once rhetorically asked what was Jack Nicklaus'

Ryder Cup record to prove how no-one remembered, said: "I've always enjoyed being a part of the team. I don't know where the perception of indifference is, because I've always loved it.

"It's great to be a part of this team. And I'm honoured to be selected for it.''

Woods' game has stabilised since he started working with new swing coach Sean Foley. He shot a final round 69 to finish tied 11th at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston - the first time he has carded three consecutive rounds under 70 this year.

Pavin insisted he had only decided to select Woods this weekend.

And Woods added: "I feel like my game is not very far away and that makes it a lot easier going into a pressure-packed environment like that knowing my game is coming around."